PERTH AMBOY — Two times city school board members voted to remove Superintendent Janine Caffrey, and each time state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf overturned the actions.

Today, a state Administrative Law judge ruled in favor of the board, saying it acted properly in approving the second resolution to remove Caffrey.

"I further order that the board may place Caffrey on paid administrative leave per its May 7, 2012 resolution," Judge Ellen Bass said in her ruling.

Bass’ decision now goes to Cerf, who has 45 days to adopt, modify or reject the judge’s action.

In her ruling, Bass rejected Caffrey’s appeal challenging the board’s vote to remove her, and granted the board’s motion for summary decision.

Caffrey said she is awaiting a ruling from the state School Ethics Commission on charges she filed against several school board members. That ruling is expected later this month.

"The majority of this board has engaged in incredibly unethical behavior," Caffrey said. She said she is continuing to do her job as superintendent.

School board president Samuel Labreault and vice president Kenneth Puccio did not return calls seeking a comment on the judge’s decision.

Board members voted 4-0 on April 25 to remove Caffrey over a string of personnel charges, with five board members abstaining over conflicts of interests. Cerf overturned that vote.

On May 7, board members invoked a "doctrine of necessity," permitting all members to vote, and then approved a resolution 6-0 to place Caffrey on leave and negotiate a settlement of the last two years of her contract.

Cerf overturned that resolution and Caffrey appealed.

Board members accuse Caffrey of insubordination, damaging morale in the school district. Caffrey has called the charges baseless.